Valve control system



Aug. 1,1944. E. P. SMITH VALVE CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Nov. 14, 1942 EDWARD1 SMITH Zmventor (Ittomeg Patented Aug. 1, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE vALviz-oou'rnotsys ritm a Edward P. Smith; Mansfield,*0hio,assignor to The Ohio Brass Company, Mansfield, Ohio, a corporation ofNew Jersey Application November 14, 142,'Srial No. 465,823

' alll modifications, alterations and variations 17 Claims.

This invention relates to controls for valves and in itsmore specificaspects relates to a remote control means for openingand closing a highpressure relatively large bore valve and more par: ticularly to a pistontype valve operable with pres sure fluid derived from the pipe line inwhich it is employed.

, The object of this" invention is to provide a control fora pistonvalve that will be governed from a position remote from the valveitself. i v i 7 Another object of the invention is to provide anelectrical means to open and close a pistonvalve from a station remotefrom the valve. V

A still further object of the invention is to pro; vide an electricalcontrol for a piston valve that will restore the pilot to a neutralposition following each operation of the control.

Another and further ohje'ctpf the invention is to provide a remotecontrol piston Valve which will first-open a valve a predeterminedamount, then return the pilot to a neutral position and uponfurtherengagement will. close the valve and;

again restore the pil-ot to a neutral position. w

A still further object of the invention is to pro-' vide a remotecontrol for a piston valve which in-. eludes a signaljmeans to informthe operator of the exact condition of the valve. A still further objectof the invention is to provide an electrical control for a pistonvalveii atg will cause the pilot of said valve to perform apredetermined sequence of operations. h t i A still further oloject ofthe invention is to pro vide a control-for a remotely located piston or;other type valve that will open and close same and simultaneously informthe operator of the exact condition of the valve. i I a'Anotherand-still further object of the invention isto provide aremotely located valve in a high pressure gas or oil line with means tosubstantially instantaneously open or close said valveand therebyobviate the presence of anopierator to open and close same. a

A stillfurther object of, the invention is to provide an electricalcontrol for a remotely located valve that can actuate said valve Withalow power requirement and assure the operator of apredetermined sequenceof valve operation.

--Other and furthervobject's of the invention will occur to thoseskilled in the. arts to which, this invention; pertains as thedescription proceeds which; taken in connection with the' accompanyingdrawings, sets forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, butsuch'di'scl'osure is not to be. construed asi a limitation of the'invention, which; lsi'limited'only by the appended claims-and; any.

of structurecoming within the spirit and scope thereof are deemed to beincluded herein.

.In the drawing: a w a Fig. 1 shows a front elevational view of a pistonvalve incorporating the invention.

L Fig. 2 shows an end elevation thereof with parts in section to showdetail. I M g I i Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram of the essential apparatus;v v

. Fig. 4 shows a viewof the timing switches and their housing with coverremoved. V

Fig. 5 showsa wiring diagram of the signal con trol.

The control-of valves in transcontinental oil;

and gas lines of relatively high unit pressureis' generally accomplishedby despatchingan operator to thevaive station andhaving him perform thenecessary opening and closing operations. These valves aresometimesequipped with a pow-, erm eans in the form of an electric motor and attimes embody means to operate thevalve with pressure fluid derived fromthe conduit or pipe line transmitting same. Even when the valves areoperated by meansof an electric motor it is still necessary for theoperator to be present atthe valve station to actually perform thenecessary sw i ope ati s Th method ,na ssari h s i s m on as. eq en ly;th ralvest tiqn t a co r b di t nc t am th su e s r stat o ndmu hi me ssume n ha ing an q eraia pr a ten ant rav l. o. h va1ve t 9m Co side ema and e s, is ireau n l encount re i m d l ys that squ d. havecbeeu oviated with a faster opening and closing of selected valves-at the valvestation. In order to;

secure a "much speedier control of remotely lo-v ate a v s a pl an on ia 's 'nf o sy temtp spvrn heQw i nd :pl i 2 a v s. in amp lip v ve s ntram, a P' f iw he r mote r m. sa d. S a i and whim is. s cans ruqtedanqarran d th t he ope ato ll a d finit ipton ati n o the l md t o ch. avea t atw l. en th qv al e if only partially open or close a valve asoccasion aui espgses is'set t rihin the. .dhc qfi i .co ain q n the atach d draw n s wh eh U iva v 9 having a passage-way 2 therethroagh andthat Qr: o t ct t assa ewayltooo en orclose t val e-1. Piston 4h si pasa er ay herein th inopen position coincides with passage-way 2.

and the former conduits are formed in separate 3 3 elements 9 and I3. Amore detailed construction of the pilot valve and conduits is set forthin theon page 21 of Catalog No. 2 of the Leach Relay co-pendingapplication of Homer J Shafer; S. N.

415,357, filed October 17, 1941, entitled Piston valves.

means of a handle II secured to an extension of the stem of the valve 6.Attention is invited to thefactthat pilot valve 6 is in reality areversing valve whereby pressure fluid is selectively directed to theends of cylinder 3 to reciprocate the valve piston '4. Whenit is desiredto shift piston 4 the handle II-is moved from its central neutralposition to either fully opened or closed or in any intermediateposition and then restored to the neutral position as shown in Fig. 1.Further detailed discussion as to the operation of the valve 6 will befound in the above identified pending application. It being true thatthe handle ll'must be restoredto its neutral position following eachoperation thereof,- it' is evident that any power system, even thoughremotely controlled must perforrnthe same operation; viz: shift thehandle to one side until the piston has assumed the desired position andthen restore it to its central neutral position. At such time when theoppo'site or reverse movementof the piston is desired the handle II isswung or turned in the opposite direction from the first mentionedmovement and held there until the piston has been moved to the desiredposition. It is essential that'the handle II always berestored to itsneutral central position for reasons more fully set forth in the abovedescribed pending appli cation. The mechanism 6 originates in a singlephase, reversing capacitor motor;I2 appropriately mounted on a flange ofthe valve body I having a speed-changer housing I3 associated therewithand-which has mountedtherein a shaft I4 on which is removably secured apulley or sprocket wheel I5. Fixed to the shaft I'4f'juxtaposed' tosprocket wheel I5 is a timing o'r' 'limit switch housing I6 of theexplosion-proof type containing the necessary time, centering andlimitswitches, subsequently more particularly described. The stem I9 of valve6 has been extended to accommodate' a pulley or sprocket I! 'in additionto handle ll and a chain or other power transmitting means I8 isconnected between pulleys or sprockets I5 andI'I; Motor I2 is preferablyof the explosion-proof type particularly suitable for-outside usage andupon energization will shift pilot orreversing Valve 6 to apredetermined position; 7 The starting-of the motor is controlledby thepush button switch 20 which may be remotely located-from the valve;preferably at an operatorsdesk. The operation and circuit sequences aresubsequently set forth in greater detail. Y 1

When the push button 20 is depressed it will energize the relay 2Iwhichls connected across lines 30 and'3I by means of-the leads 32 and 33for rotating the stem of valve being connected in series with coil 2 I,thence connecting the entire circuit across the lines. The bridgingelement 34 of the relay 2| normally connects contacts 35 and 36- butwhen energized breaks this connection and bridges contacts 31 and 38. Assoon as the contacts 31 and 33 are bridged, relays 22 and 23 areenergized by being connected across the lines 3Iland 3|, which isaccomplished by closing a circuit including line 3|, bridging element34, leads 39, 40 and relay coil 22 to line 30 and line 3|, element 34leads 39, 40, 4| and relay coil 23 to line 3!]. Relay 23 is of theimpulse type as shown in more detail Company,'Los Angeles, California.The energizing; of relay coil 22 will cause bridging element 45 thereofto engage contacts 42 and 43. The energizing of impulse relay 23 willcause its bridging element 46 to shift from contact 49 to the dottedline position to contact 48 which position the element 46 will holduntil a subsequent energizing of the relay23'. The closure of relay 22and shifting of impulse'relay 23 will cause contact'or coil 25 to beenergized thereby causing contacts 63 and 64 to be bridged by element 60to thereby rotate the motor I2 in a clockwise direction. I r

' The energizing circuit for the coil of contactor 25 originatesin theline 3|,- and includes bridging element 34, lead 39, bridging element45, lead 56, limit switch 21, lead 51, limit switch 26, lead 50,bridging element 46, contact 48, lead 59, relay coil 25 and thence toline 30. Since the actuation of contactor 25 caused its bridging element60 to connect contacts 63 and 64, a motor circuit is establishedextending from line 3|, including lead 68, bridging element 60, lead 62,motor [2, and terminating on line 30.

Motor I2 has now commenced to rotate and will continue to do so untilelement I6 has rotated approximately 45- degrees simultaneouslyshifti'ngpilot valve 6 to one of its open positions which mustmovethrough about the same degree of travel as element I6 and willthereby cause piston 4 to be moved in the cylinder 3'. When the housingI6 has been rotated to'the limit of its travel as determined by eitherof the limit switches 26 and2'l the motor I2 will cease rotating becausethe contactor holding the circuit will be broken. 1 The switches 26 and21 are mercury switches and since the housing I6 has been assumed torotate in a clockwise direction switch 26 will leveloff causing theswitch to open by reason of the mercury flowing from the end where theleadin wires enter, thereby opening the holdingcircuit to the contactorcoil 25 causing it to be released and consequently opening the circuitto motor I2. The button switch 20 has been and must be depressed duringall of this time or until the piston 4 has reachedit's predetermineddesired position. 1 i 1,

The release of the push button switch 26 .immediately energizesother'control circuits that reverses the rotation of motor I2 to returnthe The reason why 'this:circuit.path is followed is,

that when button 20 is released coils'2l, 22, and 23 aredeenergizedtherebyopening the contacts ofcoils 2| and 22 which causes bridgingelement 34 to'again bridge contacts 35, 36.1 Since element -|6=was'tilted 45 degrees clockwise the switch contacts ofcentering switch 28were closed therebyclosing the circuit justdescribed.

When relay 24 has been energized in the man-- ner described the motor l2will rotate the pilot valve 6 and its handle counter-clockwise toneutral and then stop. This motor circuit comprises 'line-3l, lead 68 tolead 6|, bridging and contact elements 65, 65, and 61, lead 69, motor l2and line30. Motor l2 will rotate until the switch 28 assumes a.horizontal postion whereupon-the holding circuit for the contactor coil24 will be broken de-energizing same, thereby causing the bridgingelement to break the motor'circuit and stop the pilot valve 6 and itshandle II in the neutral central position shown in Fig. 1. I When it isdesired to causethe piston 4 to to move oppositely from the motion itwas given as described above the push button 20 is again depressed. Thisenergizes relay 2| that in' turn energizes relays 22 and 23 which actionrestores the bridging element 46 to the full line position shown in Fig.3. 1

Relay 2| circuit includes line 3| lead 33, switch 20, lead 32, and relay2| to line 39. Energization of relay 2| lifted bridging element 34 tothe contacts 31 and 39. This action establishes the holding circuits forthe relays 22 and 23 which includes line 3| bridging element 34, lead39,lead 4B, and coil 22, and lead 40 continuing to line 4|' relay 23 andeach of the relays leading to line 30. The energization of relay 22 willcause its bridging element 45 to bridge contacts 42 and 43 and theenergization of impulse relay 23 will cause its bridging memberto-assume the full line position shown in Figure 3. The energization' ofthe relays 22 and 23 will-energize'contactor 24 to rotate pilot valve 6and the handle I in a counter-clockwise direction as'long as the switch20' is depressed or until stopped b'y the limit switch 21.

. The circuit for contactor 24 now includesthe line 3|, bridging element34, leads 39, 44, bridging element 45, lead 56', switch 2|,*lead 5?,switch" 26, line 5D, bridging element 46, lead'5l; andrelay 24 to line30. The motor circuit'will cornprise line 3|,lead 68, lead 6|,--bridgingelement 61, motor l2, lead 69, and line 39.

As previouslyindicated motor I 2 will rotate the pilot valve 6 and itshandle II to the left as long as switch is depressed or until theelement l6 has been rotated its maximum of 45 degrees whereupon thecircuit to relay 24 will be broken by the opening of limit-switch 21 thelatter being a mercury switch. Releasing of switch 20 de-energizesrelays 2|, 22,and 23, as previously explained.

When the motion of the piston' 4 has been" stopped at' the desiredpointby either of themethods mentioned switch 29 is released and themotor l2is reversedby closing the circuit-to con tactor which isautomatically accomplished upon release of switch 2|]. The circuitestablished-- for this comprises line 3|, a portion of lead 58, lead 10,bridging element 34, across contacts 35* and 36, lead 53, lead 54,switch 29, since element l6 has been rotated counter-clockwise, lead52,; lead 59; and contactor25 to line 30. The motor circuit comprisesline 3| lead '68, bridging element 60, and motor I2 tothe line The'motornow rotates clockwise and continues to do so until switch 29 has assumeda horizontal position whereupon the holding circuit to contactor 25* isbroken thereby. stopping motor I2 and restoring the pilot valve. 6 andthe handle I to the neutral position. lniview of the fact that theswitch 29 is remotely positioned or located from the valve body I,sometimes a distance of several miles, it is necessary to provide somesignal to inform the op-' erator of the exact position of the piston inits cylinder 4} This signal is locatednear the switch 20 such that theop rator may readily observe what is'going on and to obviate thenecessity of interminably holding switch 20 depressed.

The above signal comprises a signallight organization originatin in asource of supply 8| that leads to lamp 84 overleads 82 and 93 thence toresistance 8'! over lead 85, arm 86, and over lead back to supply 8|.-The other side of the signal originatesat source 8|, over leads 82 and92, to lamp 9|, then over leads 88 and 89 to resistance 81 and thence bymeans of .arm 86 and lead 99 back to the source 8|. It will be observedthat as arm 86 is moving to the right or left that more or lessresistance is added to or subtracted from any individual lamp circuit.The relative brightness or dimness of lamps 84 and 9|, will. inform theoperator ofthe position of the piston 4 in cylinder 3. The resistanceelement- 82 is rigidly disposed in: housing 93 appropriately secured tohousing Arm 86 is secured to shaft 95 that is connected to shaft96..mounting indicator 94. tion of the indicator 94 is fully describedin theabove identified pending application. It will be apparenttherefore, that as the indicator 94 and its shaft 96 is'rotated by thepiston that arm '86 Will bemoved relative to resistance '85; Fonthe sageof conveniencelamps 94 and 9| may be dif-. ferently'colored such as'redand green, withe; g. the'full brilliant green indicating the open posi-.tions and full red the closed position of thevalve. Varying degrees ofbrightness and dimnesslalso indicate :the partial .open or closedposition ofthe valve. Therefore,since both switch .20 and; lamp arelocatedat the same place the operator will know the condition of thevalve.

The motor. is shown as driving the pilot mechanism but it couldwithequal proprietybemade to drive or rotate the-disc element. of abutterfly valve, open or close .a conventional gate valve or combinationthereof with equal propriety.

The above sets forth the operating cycles whereby the pilot valvefollowing any movement thereof is always restored to the neutral centralposition-as shown in Fig. 3. ,That which is regarded new,.noveland-useful and-which is sought. to be protected by. Letters Patent ofthe United- States'is as follows: 1. In a remote control for a pipe;line valve;;a control means for a valve; anelectricallyoperated motor tooperate said control means; circuit means to operate said motorto shiftsaid control means and to restore same to a central neutral positionfollowing each operation of said valve; and a switch for said circuitmeans remotely located from said valve to govern the energization ofsaid circuit to thereby open or-close said valve. .2. In a valvecontrol; a shiftable pilot element normally disposed in a neutralposition; a motor to shift said pilot to an vopenposition on either sideof 'said' neutral position; circuit means including said motor togovernthe-rotation thereof in one direction;-aiswitchremotelylocated to causesaid circuit. to :be .closednand-circuit means--iclosable The operaeimmediately after the opening of saidswitch vto restore said pilot toits original neutral position.

3. In a valve control; a pilot element normally maintained in a neutralposition; a reversible motor to shift said pilot to an open position tothe right or left of said neutral position; circuit means to govern therotation of said motor in one direction; a remotely locatedjswitchtolenergize said circuit; switch means in said circuit to limit themovement of said pilot; circuit means closable immediately after theopening of said remote switch to reverse said motor rotation to restoresaid pilot to its neutral position; and switch means in said lastmentioned circuit to stop said motor when said pilot reaches itsneutralposition.

4. In a remote control system for a valve; a pilot adapted to bemaintained in a normally neutral position; a reversible motor to shiftsaid pilot to an open position to the right orleft of said neutralposition; a circuit means to rotate said motor in one direction; aswitch manually operable to energize said circuit and releasable to stopsaid motor; additional means in said circuit to stop rotation of saidmotor when said pilot has moved to the limit of its travel; circuitmeans energizable upon release of said manual switch and actuation ofsaid additional means to reversely rotate said motor; and means in saidlatter circuit to arrest rotation of said motor whensaid pilot has beenrestored to its neutral position.

5. In a valve controller; a valve body; a shiftable element in saidvalve body maintained in a normally neutral position; a motor to shiftsaid shiftable element means connecting said motor and said shiftableelement; means to control said motor including a control circuittherefor; a manual switch to energize said circuit; means in saidcircuit to limit the movement of said shiftable element from neutral toopen position in either direction of travel; and mean in said cir-, cuitto restore said shiftable element to its original neutral position uponrelease of said switch.

6. In a valve controller; a valve body; a movable element in said valvebody maintained in a noranally neutral position; a motor; meansconnecting said motor and said movable'element; a control circuit forsaidmotor; a manual switch for energizing said circuit; means operableby said motor to control said circuit which includes switches tov limitthe degree of movementein either direction of movement of said elementfrom its neutral position; and other switches to limit thereturnmovement of said element to its neutralposition.

7. Inc, valve controller; a valve body; means insaid body to open andclose a passageway there-- through maintained in a normally closedposition; a motor; means connecting said motor and said means; a controlcircuit for said motor;.a manual switch remotely located from said valvefor energizing said circuit; and a plurality of limit and centeringswitches in said circuit operable by said motor; said limit switchesdetermining the amount of movement of saidmeans in either direction fromits normally closed position; and said can-.- tering switches arrestingthe movement of. said means when it has been restored to its normallyclosed position. a

8. In a controller for a valve; a housing; a shiftable valve elementtherein maintained in anormally neutral position; a motor; meansconnecting said motor and said valve element; a control elementmechanically operatively associated with said motor and constructed andarranged to move in synchronism with said shiftable valve element; aplurality of limiting and centering switches fixed i'nQsaid controlelement; circuit means includingsaid motor and some of said limitingswitchesto. shift said valve element from neutral to anvopenposition; amanual switch to energize said. circuit; said limit switches arrestingthe movement of said control elem'entand said valve element when the,latter has moved to its maximum openposition; a release of said manualswitch stopping movement of said valve element and said control elementwhen a movement less than maximum is desired; circuit means including;said motor and said centering switches closable immediately upon releaseof said manual switch to restore said control element and shiftablevalve'element to neutral position; and said centering switches openingsaid last mentioned circuit when said valve element and said controlelement have been restored to neutral position.

In a valve controller; a valve housing; a normally closed rotatablevalve element in said housing; a motor; means connecting said motor andsaid valve element; a limit and centering switch supporting elementdriven by said motor and in timed relation with said valve element; acircuit means including some of said limiting switches and said motor torotate said valve element to an open position; a manual switch toenergize said circuit; said limit switches arresting movement of saidsupporting element and said valve element when maximum travel has beenachieved; another circuit to restore said supporting element and saidvalve element to closed position including said motor and some of saidcentering switches; said last mentioned circuit closable immediatelyupon the release of said manual switch; and said centering switchesarresting movement of said supporting element and said valve elementwhen restored to neutral. 10. In a valve controlling device; a housing;a valve element in said housing adapted to be maintained in a centralneutral position; a motor; means connecting said element and motor; alimit and centering switch unit operated by said motor and in timedrelation with said valve "element, said unit having limit and centeringswitches therein; circuit means including said motor and some of saidlimit switches to move said valve element from its neutral position;amanual switch to energize said circuit; said limit switches arrestingmovement of said valve after a predetermined movement; another circuitincluding said motor and some of said centering switches to restore saidvalve to its neutral position; said other circuit energizable upon therelease of said manual switch; and said centering switches arrestingmovement of said valve element when it is in its neutral position.

11. In a control system; a housing; a valve element shiftable in saidhousing and adapted to be normally maintained in a closed position; amotor to shift said valve element; circuit means including said motorand control means to'arrest motion of said valve-element when it hasmoved to predetermined distance from said closed position in eitherdirection of travel; switch means to energize said circuit; othercircuit means including said motor and other control means to restoresaid valve element to its closed position; and said other circuit meansclosable immediately upon the opening of said switch.

12. In a valve controller; a valve unit normally valve unit; a circuitmeans including said motor and means to arrest motion of said valveafter it has moved a predetermined distance from said closed neutralposition in either direction of travel; a switch to energize saidcircuit; other circuit means including said motor and other means toarrest motion of said valve when said valve element has been restored toneutral closed position; and said other circuit closable immediatelyupon the opening of said switch.

13. In a control system for a reversing valve, in combination; areversing valve having a normally closed position and shiftable to anopen position on either side of said normally closed position; a motorto shift said Valve; a speed reducer connected to said motor; meansconnecting said valve and said speed reducer; a plurality of limitingand centering switches operatively associated with said speed reducer;and circuit means including said limiting and centering switches toreturn said reversing valve to its normally closed position followingeach shifting to an open position on either side of said normally closedposition.

14. In a remote control system for a pipeline valve; a pilot valve forthe pipeline valve shiftable from a neutral closed position to an openposition to the right or left of said neutral closed position; a motorto shift said pilot; circuit means to energize said motor to shift saidpilot from said neutral to an open position; a switch to close saidcircuit and thereby initiate movement in said motor and shift said pilotvalve; and other circuit means to reversely energize said motor torestore said pilot valve to its neutral closed position, said othercircuit closed immediately upon the opening of said switch; and

said switch remotely located from said pilot valve.

central neutral position following each operation of said reversingvalve; and a switch for said circuit means remotely located from saidvalve to govern the energization of said circuit to thereby open orclose said valve.

16. In a remote control for a pipeline valve, comprising; apiston-cylinder valve device for a pipeline operable by pressure fluidderived from said pipeline; a reversing valve body secured to saidpiston-cylinder valve device, a movable element in said body maintainedin a normally neutral position and adapted to selectively admit pressurefluid to either end of said piston cylind-er device; a motor; meansconnecting said motor and said movable element; a control circuit forsaid motor; a manual switch for energizing said circuit; means operableby said motor to control said circuit which includes switches to limitthe degree of movement in either direction of movement of said elementfrom its neutral position; and other switches to limit the returnmovement of said element to its neutral position.

17. In a remote control for a pipeline valve, comprising; apiston-cylinder valve device for a pipeline operable by pressure fluidderived from said pipeline; a housing secured to said piston cylinderdevice; a reversing valve element in said housing adapted to bemaintained in a central neutral position; a motor; means connecting saidelement and motor; a limit and centering switch unit operated by saidmotor and in timed relation with said reversing valve element, said unithaving limit and centering switches therein; circuit means includingsaid motor and some of said limit switches to move said valve elementfrom its neutral position; a manual switch to energize said circuit;said limit switches arresting movement of said reversing valve after apredetermined movement; another circuit including said motor and some ofsaid centering switches to restore said valve to its neutral position;said other circuit energizable upon the release of said manual reversingswitch; and said centering switches arresting movement of said reversingvalve ele ment when it is in its neutral position.

EDWARD P. SMITH.

